I'm looking for people who sail catamarans around Palmetto, Bradenton, Sarasota, Anna Maria, and Longboat Key.



Currently I keep my G-Cat on the northern Gulf coast of Anna Maria Island, and do most of my sailing in the Gulf and Bay around Anna Maria and Egmont Key. Is there anyone else who sails nearby?

We're not quite within the range of your request, but come join us at the Gulfport Yacht Club, just across the bay.

We have club races every other Saturday...next one 4-20-02.

You can drag it over the Skyway or sail. Only one drawbridge to get past.

By the way, my wife and I were looking for a place to put our boat (Mystere 6.0) in on Anna Maria and stay at one of the bed and breakfasts, but no one knew where to launch or keep the boat overnite. Any ideas?

Thanx

John

I hail from St. Pete. Currently I mostly go up to the Dunedin Causeway but I plan to do some sailing that way over the summer.

John - I'd like to get some more information about sailing down your way, where to launch, how's the sailing, do ya'll stay in the bay or is it easy to get out to the gulf?

Thanks,



Lance

You might want to try the Sarasota Sailing Squadron on City Island. They have several cats that are stored there mast up. I have also seen a collection of boats set up on a Siesta Key beach.

Lance

GYC is 1.5 blocks east of 49th St S. on Del Rio (almost to the end of 49th St). We store mast up and have nice ramp next to small beach. Gulf access is thru one bridge only...either tow or motor (I ordered my Cheata mount today).

We have a mixed bag of boats from new Boyer A-Cat to Tiapans (2) Nacras, Hobies and one mighty Mystere 6.0 (mine).

I know the name says Yacht Club, but its a very laid back sailing club.

Come try us.

John

I've never sailed across the bay before, about how far is the trip? I'm not fond of trailering my boat any more than I have to, thats why I leave it right on the beach, and just cat-trak it to the water's edge...



Call me lazy

John,



Went and checked out the GYC today. I couldn't believe there were so many cats there. I got the phone number from the front and left a message inquiring about storage/membership. Having mast-up storage would be perfect for me as I work 12hr shifts @ night so I have 3-4 days off a week. Even better, the YC is only about 15 minutes from the house.

Saw the A cat in action today, it was flying before the storm rolled in. I also saw your Mystere. It's one beautiful cat, first one I've seen with the wings. Do you think a small electric motor would get me out through the bridge? Is there plenty of room sailing in the bay there? Never sailed down that way so I wasn't sure.



Thanks,



Lance

Hi Lance:



I've met you several times on the Dunedin Causeway, in the past.

At those times you were "getting" your TheMightyHobie18 ready to sail.



Are you now sailing out of the Causeway?? I'm out there almost every weekend, and can't say I've seen your boat. Unless of course you set up late, in which case I'm usually out in the Gulf.



If you see me, stop by and say hi. I have the P19MX, and am probably sailing it hard.



Dave

Dave,



I've been going out for about a month now. I finally got all of the pieces put together and have been having a great time sailing, except for cracking both rudder castings my second weekend out. They have since been replaced and I had her out on Sunday. Between the wife and all of the kids it's been hard to get there real early so I haven't been getting set up until around 11:30 or so. Once I have all of the little bugs worked out and a system down I hope to up and out a lot earlier. I have attached a pic of my cat (minus wings). I hope to see you out there soon.



Lance

Lance,

Since this seems more of a one to one discussion (rather than a forum discussion), if you'll send me your email address, I'll contact you with all the particulars regarding GYC.

I sailed for years on the Dunedin Causway with my G-Cat.

But once you get spoiled with mast-up storage and a sailing club, its not the same as having to hoist the mast every time you sail.

John

I'm just thrilled that I have found a place to leave my boat right on the beach. Toss the cat-traks under it, wheel it to the waters edge, raise sails and go!



Granted it takes a while to do this yourself, since its a PITA to get cat-tracks under the boat with just one person. I usually settle for having them 1/3 of the way under the back and just deal with the extra weight up front.

John,



I sent you a private message through our accounts here. Just in case you didn't get it here's my email address:

hobie18magnum @ catsailor.com



Of course remove the spaces before and after the @ sign - my anti-spam protection.

It shouldn't be too hard to use the cat trax with one person. Start at the bows, lifting each hull up and sliding the wheels forward evenly, a few feet at a time. When you get the wheels close to the front crossbar, you can stand on the axle and pull yourself in by grabbing the front crossbar or dolphin striker. You should be able to pull the boat up as far as you need.

Now, when you have a slow leak in one wheel and your trying to pull your TheMightyHobie18 up a hill in soft sand by yourself - that's a bitch!

Maybe later this summer we can set up a meet at Eggmont Key.

Good luck,

Granted, a TheMightyHobie18 with cat-tracks that have cradles is doable with one person. However, there are no cradles made for the Deep-V shape of a G-Cat's hull, so I've got the rollers which will roll back out from under the boat if things aren't tied up tight. Also- I've got 3 crossbeams, two trampolines, and no dolphin striker... which prevents me from getting between the hulls and pushing on the cat-trak's axle.



As it is, I use the rope and pull a wheel up as far as I can on one side, tie it off and do the same to the other side. Repeat that process as many times as it takes until the boat just slides forwards when trying to pull the wheel up further. This is usually about 1/3 of the way up from the transom.